Around 12,000 foreign workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) have downgraded their work visas, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
“Sa huling tala natin nasa 12,000 na po ang nagfile for voluntary downgrading (In out latest tally, there are 12,000 foreign workers of POGOs who have voluntarily downgraded their work visas),” said BI Spokesperson Dana Sandoval on PTV’s Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.
The BI gave all foreign workers of POGOs until Oct. 15 to downgrade their work visas.
The move is pursuant to the directive of President Marcos to have all POGO operations in the country cease by the end of the year.
By Wednesday, Oct. 16, Sandoval said the BI will have a final tally on how many have met the deadline and have their work visas downgraded.
“Hopefully tumaas pa po ‘yung bilang na ‘yan ‘yung mga boluntaryong nagdowngrade (Hopefully the number will rise concerning those who voluntarily downgraded their work visas)
Among the foreign POGO workers given work visas, the spokesperson noted “siguro mga 50 percent na po ang umalis or nagdowngrade na mga foreign nationals in general (there may be 50 percent who have either already left the country or downgraded their work visas).”
She revealed that there are foreign POGO workers, who have decided to just leave the Philippines for good, and no longer had their work visas downgraded.
Sandoval warned that those who failed to downgrade their visas “sila po ay madedeport and mabablacklist (they will be deported and blacklist).”
The spokesperson assured that those who met the deadline they will have the chance to still return to the Philippines.
The BI official said the foreigners who downgraded their work visas will be given temporary visitors visas and have 59 days to leave the Philippines.